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A review by thelilbookwitch
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
5.0
I think this is my favorite work yet of Hazelwood's, and even with the disclaimer in the beginning about this book being about two broken characters who are not great at communicating (but sure pack that stamina in elsewhere), I still found the witty levity on her pages I've come to enjoy but provided by supporting characters.
I personally related to Rue a lot, especially her diversion tactics for avoiding meaningful conversation, and illogical conclusions and procedures for living her life. While not unlikeable, Rue is prickly and I liked that Hazelwood was able to walk that line with her, and her overall development was mostly satisfactory.
Therapy is a gift, and so are partners like Eli. I had to suspend my doubt about Eli a lot, because while I love a leading man, his whole personality became "Help Rue, only think of Rue" and entirely centered around her which made him a little flat. He was proclaimed him "broken" by the author in the beginning as well, but seemed to serve only as a foil for Rue's development without going through anything poignantly meaningful on his own.
Overall, very happy with this book, especially where kink was concerned as we finally got some instead of the annoying kink-baiting a lot of authors employ. That being said, there is a healthy dynamic between two flawed characters which lends some realism to the events.
I personally related to Rue a lot, especially her diversion tactics for avoiding meaningful conversation, and illogical conclusions and procedures for living her life. While not unlikeable, Rue is prickly and I liked that Hazelwood was able to walk that line with her, and her overall development was mostly satisfactory.
Therapy is a gift, and so are partners like Eli. I had to suspend my doubt about Eli a lot, because while I love a leading man, his whole personality became "Help Rue, only think of Rue" and entirely centered around her which made him a little flat. He was proclaimed him "broken" by the author in the beginning as well, but seemed to serve only as a foil for Rue's development without going through anything poignantly meaningful on his own.
Overall, very happy with this book, especially where kink was concerned as we finally got some instead of the annoying kink-baiting a lot of authors employ. That being said, there is a healthy dynamic between two flawed characters which lends some realism to the events.